Donal Hickey: Let’s doff Cap to nature

It’s not that long since suggestions that farmers should devote part of their lands exclusively to nature would have been treated with utter disdain.

Under the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy (Cap), the emphasis has been on maximum food production and payments to farmers, but the mood is changing. Scientists from all EU countries and beyond, including 58 experts from Ireland, have called for major changes in the Cap to reverse damage to the environment and to restore nature.